The Furious: Martial Arts Epic Delivers Spectacular Action Choreography
"The Furious," a martial arts film directed by Japan's Kenji Tanigaki and starring Indonesia's Joe Taslim and China's Xie Miao, released in theaters on June 12, 2026. The film follows two men—a journalist and a blue-collar worker—teaming up to rescue their kidnapped loved ones from human traffickers through increasingly inventive fight sequences. Critics praise the film's innovative action choreography and physical coordination as exceptional, though acknowledge its plot and dialogue are secondary to the combat spectacle.
"The Furious" is an international co-production featuring talent from across Asia, shot in Thailand with a Hong Kong production style. The film stars Joe Taslim as a journalist searching for his missing wife and Xie Miao as a father rescuing his kidnapped daughter, with both characters eventually joining forces against a criminal syndicate. While the screenplay—credited to four writers—is acknowledged as thin and the multilingual dubbing is clunky, the film's primary strength lies in its action choreography by Kensuke Sonomura. The fight sequences employ creative use of props and practical effects, ranging from vehicles and ladders to bicycles, and feature heightened martial arts styles including Judo and anime-inspired combat. The film generated significant buzz at fall festivals, placing second in Toronto's Midnight Madness People's Choice voting, and was acquired by Lionsgate for international distribution.
How coverage differed
Newsweek's review emphasizes the film's entertainment value and innovation, calling it "an absolute delight" with a "singular martial arts experience." Variety's review is more critical of the narrative and dialogue quality, using terms like "dopey dialogue" and "barely-there plot," though both outlets ultimately praise the action choreography as exceptional and worthy of the film's existence.
What different sources said
- VarietyCenter
‘The Furious’ Review: Dopey Dialogue and Dubbing Don’t Matter in an Aptly Titled, Stunningly Choreographed Martial Arts Spectacular
- NewsweekCenter
Video Interview: Joe Taslim, Star of Martial Arts Epic "The Furious"
- AV ClubCenter
An elemental, balletic beatdown, The Furious is an action junkie's dream
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